Disclaimer: I do not own most of the characters in this fan fiction, they
are owned by Squaresoft. So please do not sue me. And secondly this is my
story please don't steal it or the characters that are mine. O_o;
Chapter 2: Unanswered Questions
Rinoa sighed knowing there were no cities in walking distance. Which means she would probably be stuck there for another day or so. Right now she really didn't want to be alone. For one how she got here was still a mystery. Climbing over some chunks of brick that hasn't been cleaned up yet she made her way to where Squall and her had made their promise.
Squall… She griped the two rings in her hand that where hanging from her silver chain around her delicate neck. Looking across the flower field she couldn't help to wonder what Squall was doing right now. Was he worried about her? Did he even care that she was missing? That was a rather stupid question Squall did care for her, didn't he?
No sense in worrying about that right now. One problem at a time and the problem right now is getting away from here. She let her eyes roam around the field a bit searching for something, anything. "I'll be waiting here so if you come here you'll find me I promise. You aren't coming Squall…" she whispered to herself as she scrambled over the ruble.
She quickly made her way out of the orphanage and out into the open. She stood there alone like on the beach staring out over the water. It seemed like forever but finally she seen a boat that may be close enough to see her. Rinoa jumped up and down waving her arms trying to get their attention.
Squealing with glee when the boat blew its horn at her. Why was she so happy to be rescued? She had only been here a day that she knew of at least. Nevertheless Rinoa would much rather be with her friends then at some empty place. The rowboat came slow but surely over to shore.
"Thank you for coming out of your way to save me."
"No problem ma'am." The first man said while offering a hand to help Rinoa into the boat. The second man stared at Rinoa for awhile remaining silent; his ore gripped in his hand so tight that his knuckles had turned white.
"What's wrong you act as if you had seen a ghost." Rinoa gave the man a half-reassuring smile.
The man just shook his head a few times and smiled. "Sorry, I couldn't help noticing that you are Sorceress Rinoa." The man spoke soft as if he was scared to speak. For one thing the man didn't like magic or anything along that line. He was a rather closed minded person.
Rinoa frowned slightly, she had never asked to be Sorceress. It was more of a burden to her than it was a gift or a privilege. "I am Rinoa…"
The first man turned his attention back to the two people in the boat after shoving the boat off into the water. "So were you going?"
"I need to find a way to Balamb Garden."
"We'll get you there safely Rinoa." That was the last thing said between the three of them as the rowed toward the bigger boat. She was glad that they hadn't asked how she got there, or why. Sadly Rinoa had no answers at this point to the question.
After hours being on the boat with a bunch of men who smelled like fish they docked at Balamb. Ah, the hometown of her insane friend Zell. Quietly she walked through Balamb with a solider at her side. Why did he have to follow her, she wasn't in any danger or causing any. "Why'd the stick you with me?" Rinoa tried her best to make it sound more of curious question rather than a rude remark.
"I don't really know. But orders are orders and I have to obey them Miss Heartilly" The soldier's face was blank and unreadable.
"Ms. Heartilly, you mean. I understand." She smiled at the man. Brushing a lock of her black hair away from her chocolate brown eyes she gave a sigh. "There most be some reason why they sent you with me. Do they not trust me or something?"
The man looked shocked by the question. His voice came out sluggish, "Well some odd stuff has been happening lately, that would be my guess as why I'm to make sure you get there."
"To watch over me or to make sure it isn't me that caused the little problems?" Her voice was filled with anger. She hated this, she mostly hated the fact that no one treated her like they use to. It hurt to see people afraid or them accusing her of things she had nothing to do with. Although she could understand why, for the few years the Sorceresses had made a very bad reputation.
"Ms. Heartilly I don't think you caused the problems don't so worry about it." The man was tired, he looked like he had been at work for ever. Didn't they ever give these people a break? Rinoa just nodded and followed the man into a car. They drove in silence on the way to Balamb Garden.
~*~
Squall sat leaning back in his swivel chair his head leaned back staring mindless at the ceiling. Closing his eyes he let out a deep sigh. "Squall?"
Squall mumbled something lowly under his breath as he shifted in his chair to see Xu. Doesn't his woman ever take a break? "What Xu?"
A frown appeared on the woman's face. Xu was somewhere in her mid twenties and has been working at Balamb Garden for a long time. "Squall, there have been some requests for SeeDs. It seems that the monster rate is increasing in some parts of the other contents. They don't know what is causing the sudden up rise in the population."
Squall took of his gloves and threw them on the table, as if they were causing him a big problem with having them on. "Fine send some SeeDs out to kill them. It would give them good practice in battle." Squall sounded tired and annoyed.
"Squall…" Xu shifted her black eyed gaze to him. "We have some news about Ms. Heartilly."
He sat up right in the desk grabbing the gloves. "..Well don't just stand there looking at me what is it?" he tried not to sound so anxious to hear what she had to say about Rinoa.
"Rinoa was found at the Orphanage today, a ship came and picked her up. They said she as on her way here." Xu shifted her pile of papers into her other hand. "Squall Rinoa has been missing for some time, and she suddenly shows up at the Orphanage where you grew up. There had been no contact with her at all."
"Don't you think I know that Xu? She is my…" His voice trailed off. He decided to switch the subject. "How long will it be before Rinoa arrives?"
The woman looked down at her watch on her left arm. "About ten minutes give or take."
Squall stood up walking over to her, his boots made a soft tapping sound on the polished floor. "I'm going down there to met Rinoa."
"You have work to do Squall. She can come up and see you when she gets here." Xu handed him the papers.
"…Whatever" He let out a deep sigh and turned around making his way to the desk not saying a word. Xu turned on her heels and stalked toward the elevator. She shook her head a bit and pushed the button and stepped into the elevator. He watched her disappear behind the door.
~*~
Rinoa stood outside of the car looking at the huge building. It wasn't long ago that they found out the Garden could fly. Although it could fly the decided to plant it back by Balamb for awhile. She shifted her gaze to the solider that pressed a button and locked the car doors. "Ma'am, shall I escort you in?"
She stared at the Front Gate, narrowing her eyes at what to looks to be a cowboy. The only one who walked around Balamb Garden like that was Irvine. "No that's ok. I see a friend of mine. Thank you for everything…Larry."
The man made his way to Rinoa and the Solider. He was tall, handsome, his long light brown hair was tied back into a pony tail. Rinoa smiled usually under any other circumstances she probably wouldn't be happy to see him. "Hey Rin, where ya been?"
She arched a brow at the usage of "Rin" but let it side. "Hello Irvine!" She ignored the last question on purpose, because still she had no answers for it. "Where's everyone?"
Irvine tilted up his hat a bit, although since Rinoa wasn't very tall he could see her almost perfectly without doing so. "Selphie and Zell are hanging up flyers for something, Quistis is in class teaching I think, Squall is in his office with a pile of papers up to his chin. And I am here talking to you." He had to smirk a bit. "Oh yeah your mutt is with Selphie."
She frowned at the word 'mutt' Angelo was no mutt. "He's not a mutt! …And I'm glad to hear that Selphie has been taking care of him. I thought I lost Angelo because…I was lost myself." She voice dropped to a whisper. "Was Squall upset when he found out I was gone?"
"Loner Boy? Yeah he was upset, but he tried not to show it and was doing a good job of it unless you knew him well enough." He sighed and wrapped his arm around her shoulder hugging her toward his body. Nothing sexual meant by it just a friendly hug.
"Can we go see him now?" Rinoa didn't even try to cover the eagerness in her voice. Irvine nodded a few times and led Rinoa toward the elevators…
The elevator doors opened with a big whoosh sound. She stood there in the doorway for a second studying the man sitting behind the desk. A big smile crossed her face as she made were way over to him. "Squall!" Her voice seemed to carry throughout the room.
Squall smiled and stood up wrapping his arms around her. His gloved hand petted her soft shiny black hair. After clinging to her Knight she finally pulled away, the tears in her eyes still fresh from crying. "Where have you been Rinoa?" He brushed the tears away from her eyes gently with his left hand.
Looking up at him she was completely dumbfounded. That stupid question still has been floating around unanswered. "I don't know Squall, I really don't."
"You're telling me you have been gone for over a week and you have no idea where you have been?" He arched a brow, his voice carrying a touch of anger with it.
"A week?" She whispered under her breath. How could she be gone a week and not know it? A frown crossed her beautiful face, knowing Squall didn't believe her. Hell if she were him, she probably wouldn't believe her either. She let out a small sigh shaking her head. "Squall, I'm not lying I have no idea what happened. Just yesterday I woke up at the beach near the Orphanage."
He stared into her eyes, those dark chocolate brown eyes that he loved so much. What could he say to that when he knew hardly anything of this either? It was just plain odd that she could be gone for that long and not know where she was or what she was doing. He went into his usual standing pose while running the facts through his mind.
"Squall?" Her voice came soft and unsure.
He turned his gaze back to her and blinked. "It's ok. We'll worry about it later. You should get some rest and I'll have Irvine let everyone know you are ok."
She looked at the floor, "Squall…I'm sorry…"
"For what Rinoa?" He rested his right hand on the upper part of her arm.
"I'm sorry because I can't remember what happened. Everything is blank, nothing there…" Tears started sting her eyes again, she closed her eyes tightly refusing to cry again.
"…Come on Rinoa." He dropped his hand back to his side and walked over to the elevator waiting for her.
"Squall you forgot, I don't live here." She followed him slowly toward the elevator.
He sighed, being to be tired of this whole thing. He just nodded and remained silent while waiting for the elevator to come up. "You can…" Maybe Rinoa could stay with Quistis or Selphie? He muttered something lowly because he knew they wouldn't enjoy Rinoa just popping up in their room, invading their space. Only one option left… "You can clean up and whatever in my place." He paused for a few moments, "Until we can find a place for you." With that they got onto the elevator leaving the office behind. The same questions still remains hovering in the air, where had she been and what did she do?
Chapter 2: Unanswered Questions
Rinoa sighed knowing there were no cities in walking distance. Which means she would probably be stuck there for another day or so. Right now she really didn't want to be alone. For one how she got here was still a mystery. Climbing over some chunks of brick that hasn't been cleaned up yet she made her way to where Squall and her had made their promise.
Squall… She griped the two rings in her hand that where hanging from her silver chain around her delicate neck. Looking across the flower field she couldn't help to wonder what Squall was doing right now. Was he worried about her? Did he even care that she was missing? That was a rather stupid question Squall did care for her, didn't he?
No sense in worrying about that right now. One problem at a time and the problem right now is getting away from here. She let her eyes roam around the field a bit searching for something, anything. "I'll be waiting here so if you come here you'll find me I promise. You aren't coming Squall…" she whispered to herself as she scrambled over the ruble.
She quickly made her way out of the orphanage and out into the open. She stood there alone like on the beach staring out over the water. It seemed like forever but finally she seen a boat that may be close enough to see her. Rinoa jumped up and down waving her arms trying to get their attention.
Squealing with glee when the boat blew its horn at her. Why was she so happy to be rescued? She had only been here a day that she knew of at least. Nevertheless Rinoa would much rather be with her friends then at some empty place. The rowboat came slow but surely over to shore.
"Thank you for coming out of your way to save me."
"No problem ma'am." The first man said while offering a hand to help Rinoa into the boat. The second man stared at Rinoa for awhile remaining silent; his ore gripped in his hand so tight that his knuckles had turned white.
"What's wrong you act as if you had seen a ghost." Rinoa gave the man a half-reassuring smile.
The man just shook his head a few times and smiled. "Sorry, I couldn't help noticing that you are Sorceress Rinoa." The man spoke soft as if he was scared to speak. For one thing the man didn't like magic or anything along that line. He was a rather closed minded person.
Rinoa frowned slightly, she had never asked to be Sorceress. It was more of a burden to her than it was a gift or a privilege. "I am Rinoa…"
The first man turned his attention back to the two people in the boat after shoving the boat off into the water. "So were you going?"
"I need to find a way to Balamb Garden."
"We'll get you there safely Rinoa." That was the last thing said between the three of them as the rowed toward the bigger boat. She was glad that they hadn't asked how she got there, or why. Sadly Rinoa had no answers at this point to the question.
After hours being on the boat with a bunch of men who smelled like fish they docked at Balamb. Ah, the hometown of her insane friend Zell. Quietly she walked through Balamb with a solider at her side. Why did he have to follow her, she wasn't in any danger or causing any. "Why'd the stick you with me?" Rinoa tried her best to make it sound more of curious question rather than a rude remark.
"I don't really know. But orders are orders and I have to obey them Miss Heartilly" The soldier's face was blank and unreadable.
"Ms. Heartilly, you mean. I understand." She smiled at the man. Brushing a lock of her black hair away from her chocolate brown eyes she gave a sigh. "There most be some reason why they sent you with me. Do they not trust me or something?"
The man looked shocked by the question. His voice came out sluggish, "Well some odd stuff has been happening lately, that would be my guess as why I'm to make sure you get there."
"To watch over me or to make sure it isn't me that caused the little problems?" Her voice was filled with anger. She hated this, she mostly hated the fact that no one treated her like they use to. It hurt to see people afraid or them accusing her of things she had nothing to do with. Although she could understand why, for the few years the Sorceresses had made a very bad reputation.
"Ms. Heartilly I don't think you caused the problems don't so worry about it." The man was tired, he looked like he had been at work for ever. Didn't they ever give these people a break? Rinoa just nodded and followed the man into a car. They drove in silence on the way to Balamb Garden.
~*~
Squall sat leaning back in his swivel chair his head leaned back staring mindless at the ceiling. Closing his eyes he let out a deep sigh. "Squall?"
Squall mumbled something lowly under his breath as he shifted in his chair to see Xu. Doesn't his woman ever take a break? "What Xu?"
A frown appeared on the woman's face. Xu was somewhere in her mid twenties and has been working at Balamb Garden for a long time. "Squall, there have been some requests for SeeDs. It seems that the monster rate is increasing in some parts of the other contents. They don't know what is causing the sudden up rise in the population."
Squall took of his gloves and threw them on the table, as if they were causing him a big problem with having them on. "Fine send some SeeDs out to kill them. It would give them good practice in battle." Squall sounded tired and annoyed.
"Squall…" Xu shifted her black eyed gaze to him. "We have some news about Ms. Heartilly."
He sat up right in the desk grabbing the gloves. "..Well don't just stand there looking at me what is it?" he tried not to sound so anxious to hear what she had to say about Rinoa.
"Rinoa was found at the Orphanage today, a ship came and picked her up. They said she as on her way here." Xu shifted her pile of papers into her other hand. "Squall Rinoa has been missing for some time, and she suddenly shows up at the Orphanage where you grew up. There had been no contact with her at all."
"Don't you think I know that Xu? She is my…" His voice trailed off. He decided to switch the subject. "How long will it be before Rinoa arrives?"
The woman looked down at her watch on her left arm. "About ten minutes give or take."
Squall stood up walking over to her, his boots made a soft tapping sound on the polished floor. "I'm going down there to met Rinoa."
"You have work to do Squall. She can come up and see you when she gets here." Xu handed him the papers.
"…Whatever" He let out a deep sigh and turned around making his way to the desk not saying a word. Xu turned on her heels and stalked toward the elevator. She shook her head a bit and pushed the button and stepped into the elevator. He watched her disappear behind the door.
~*~
Rinoa stood outside of the car looking at the huge building. It wasn't long ago that they found out the Garden could fly. Although it could fly the decided to plant it back by Balamb for awhile. She shifted her gaze to the solider that pressed a button and locked the car doors. "Ma'am, shall I escort you in?"
She stared at the Front Gate, narrowing her eyes at what to looks to be a cowboy. The only one who walked around Balamb Garden like that was Irvine. "No that's ok. I see a friend of mine. Thank you for everything…Larry."
The man made his way to Rinoa and the Solider. He was tall, handsome, his long light brown hair was tied back into a pony tail. Rinoa smiled usually under any other circumstances she probably wouldn't be happy to see him. "Hey Rin, where ya been?"
She arched a brow at the usage of "Rin" but let it side. "Hello Irvine!" She ignored the last question on purpose, because still she had no answers for it. "Where's everyone?"
Irvine tilted up his hat a bit, although since Rinoa wasn't very tall he could see her almost perfectly without doing so. "Selphie and Zell are hanging up flyers for something, Quistis is in class teaching I think, Squall is in his office with a pile of papers up to his chin. And I am here talking to you." He had to smirk a bit. "Oh yeah your mutt is with Selphie."
She frowned at the word 'mutt' Angelo was no mutt. "He's not a mutt! …And I'm glad to hear that Selphie has been taking care of him. I thought I lost Angelo because…I was lost myself." She voice dropped to a whisper. "Was Squall upset when he found out I was gone?"
"Loner Boy? Yeah he was upset, but he tried not to show it and was doing a good job of it unless you knew him well enough." He sighed and wrapped his arm around her shoulder hugging her toward his body. Nothing sexual meant by it just a friendly hug.
"Can we go see him now?" Rinoa didn't even try to cover the eagerness in her voice. Irvine nodded a few times and led Rinoa toward the elevators…
The elevator doors opened with a big whoosh sound. She stood there in the doorway for a second studying the man sitting behind the desk. A big smile crossed her face as she made were way over to him. "Squall!" Her voice seemed to carry throughout the room.
Squall smiled and stood up wrapping his arms around her. His gloved hand petted her soft shiny black hair. After clinging to her Knight she finally pulled away, the tears in her eyes still fresh from crying. "Where have you been Rinoa?" He brushed the tears away from her eyes gently with his left hand.
Looking up at him she was completely dumbfounded. That stupid question still has been floating around unanswered. "I don't know Squall, I really don't."
"You're telling me you have been gone for over a week and you have no idea where you have been?" He arched a brow, his voice carrying a touch of anger with it.
"A week?" She whispered under her breath. How could she be gone a week and not know it? A frown crossed her beautiful face, knowing Squall didn't believe her. Hell if she were him, she probably wouldn't believe her either. She let out a small sigh shaking her head. "Squall, I'm not lying I have no idea what happened. Just yesterday I woke up at the beach near the Orphanage."
He stared into her eyes, those dark chocolate brown eyes that he loved so much. What could he say to that when he knew hardly anything of this either? It was just plain odd that she could be gone for that long and not know where she was or what she was doing. He went into his usual standing pose while running the facts through his mind.
"Squall?" Her voice came soft and unsure.
He turned his gaze back to her and blinked. "It's ok. We'll worry about it later. You should get some rest and I'll have Irvine let everyone know you are ok."
She looked at the floor, "Squall…I'm sorry…"
"For what Rinoa?" He rested his right hand on the upper part of her arm.
"I'm sorry because I can't remember what happened. Everything is blank, nothing there…" Tears started sting her eyes again, she closed her eyes tightly refusing to cry again.
"…Come on Rinoa." He dropped his hand back to his side and walked over to the elevator waiting for her.
"Squall you forgot, I don't live here." She followed him slowly toward the elevator.
He sighed, being to be tired of this whole thing. He just nodded and remained silent while waiting for the elevator to come up. "You can…" Maybe Rinoa could stay with Quistis or Selphie? He muttered something lowly because he knew they wouldn't enjoy Rinoa just popping up in their room, invading their space. Only one option left… "You can clean up and whatever in my place." He paused for a few moments, "Until we can find a place for you." With that they got onto the elevator leaving the office behind. The same questions still remains hovering in the air, where had she been and what did she do?